Ladder.



No. 678,65. Patented muy as, asm. F. suummm;

LADDER.

(Application tiled Dec. 26, 1900`) (No Model.)

llnrrnn Freres nricnr nieren,

FREDRICK SCHOENHUT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Lacona.,

srncrnrcarron forming part of Lettere Patent No. 678,695, dated Juiy 1e, 190i.

Application filed December 26, 1900. Serial No. 411028y (No model.)

To all whom t 771,603/ concern:

Beit known that I, FREDRICK ScHoENHUT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladders, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. l

This invention relates to ladders for use by plasterers, paper-hangers,and others; and the object thereof is to provide a device of this class which may serve as an ordinary ladder, as an elevated platform, and also as a table; and with this andother objects' in view the invention consists in a device of the class specified constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following speciiication, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by the same reference characters in each of the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved ladder with the separate parts thereof folded together; Fig. 2, a plan view showing the parts extended when used as an elevated platform, and Fig. 3 a sectional side view of the device as shown in Fig. 2.

In the practice of my invention I provide a ladder of the class specified comprising two separate similar parts 5, each of which consists of separate side plates or bars 6, in which are secured steps 7, any desired number of which may be employed and ve of which are shown in the drawings.

The steps 7 constitute the rounds of the ladder, and hinged to the bottom of the top step 7 of one part of the ladder, as shown at 8, is a board 9, to the free end of which is secured a transverse strip or bar lO, having end projections 11, which fit in and are adapted t0 move in slots 12, formed in the opposite sides of the other part of the ladder, and said slots are provided at their free ends with downwardly and outwardly directed extensions 13, which are also adapted to receive the projections 11 of the metal strip or bar 10. The metal strip or bar 10 serves to strengthen the end of the board 9, as Well as to form a connection between the separate parts of the ladder, and secured to the top of the hinged end of said board is a transverse plate 14, which overlaps the corresponding top step 7 of that part of the ladder to which said board is hinged and serves to strengthen the hinge, and said plate 14 is provided at each end with transverse recesses 15, and pivoted to the inner side of the side portions 6 of that part of the ladder to which the top board 9 is hinged, and about midway thereof, as shown at 16, are metal bars 177 which when the separate parts of-the ladder are folded together, as shown in Fig. 1, rest in the recesses 15 of the plate let and within the separate sides of said part of the ladder.

When the parts of the ladder are extended to form an elevated platform, as shown in Fig. 2, the bars 17 are swung outwardly and connected with catches secured to the top board 9 at 19 about midway of said board and serve to securely brace and strengthen the elevated platform so formed.

Hinged centrally to one of the steps of one part of the ladder, preferably the bottom step, as shown at 20, is a bar 21, and a corresponding bar 22 is hinged to the opposite part of the ladder in the same relative position, and the steps 7 of each part of the ladder are provided centrally of their inner edges with recesses 23, adapted to receive these bars when the separate parts of the ladder are folded together, as shown at Fig. 1, and these bars are provided at their free ends one with a plate 23, secured to its upper side, and the other with a corresponding plate 24, secured to its lower side, and each bar is provided with a transverse hole or opening 25, and when the parts of the ladder are in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the said bars 21 and 22 are connected by a key-pin 261, passed therethrough, and said bars 21 and 22 also serve to securely brace and strengthen the device or apparatus when used as an elevated platform.

Arranged transversely in each side or part of the ladder and preferably just below the second step from the bottom on each side are supports 27, which are adapted to be drawn out, in which position they serve to support a board for use as a table by paper-hangers and decorators, and the separate parts of the IOO ladder may be secured or held in the folded position shown in Fig. 1 by means of a catch 28, pivoted to one side and adapted to engage with a keeper or similar device 29, secured t0 the other side or part.

The bars 2l are held in position when the separate parts of the ladder are folded together,as shownin Fig. l, by means of catches 30, pivoted to the bottom of one of the steps and adapted to enter a suitable recess in said bars, one of which is shown at 3l in Fig. 3.

This device is simple in construction and operation and perfectly adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended, and it will be apparent that changes in and modifications of the construction described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages, and I reserve the right to make all suchalterations therein as fairly come within the scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure vby Letters Patent, is-

A device of the class described, comprising two separate ladders one of which is provided with a plate or board hinged to the top step thereof within the sides thereof and provided at its free end with lateral projections and the other part or ladder being provided with 3o slots in the opposite sides thereof in which said projections move said slots being provided at their upper ends with downwardly and backwardly directed extensions, one of said parts orladders being also provided with pivoted members at each side thereof which are adapted to be folded between the sides thereof and also to engage with said plate or board when said parts or ladders are extended and both of said parts or ladders being provided near the bottom with pivoted bars which are adapted to be folded upwardly between the sides thereof and to be lowered and adjustably connected in a horizontal position when the separate parts or ladders are extended, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in pres ence of thesubscribing witnesses, this 22d day of December, 1900.

FREDRICK SUHOEN HUT.

Witnesses:

F. A. STEWART, M. K. LORWERRE. 

